In a first, the award-winning composer and bassist Ross McHenry teams up with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for a specially curated concert celebrating the unique and changing cultural landscape of Australian creative music.

Gigs at Grainger 1 features two World Premieres: a major new work written by Ross McHenry for improvising piano and the ASO featuring acclaimed Adelaide born, New York-based pianist Matthew Sheens. Born out of a longstanding musical relationship between McHenry and Sheens this music highlights Sheens incredible capacity as an improviser, paired with McHenry’s unique soundscape. Also, a new symphonic work written by Matthew Sheens plus music from the Ross McHenry Trio featuring Matthew Sheens and Josh Baldwin.

The Vardan Ovsepian/Ross McHenry Quartet is a co-led group that features one of the worlds leading improvisors, LA based, Vardan Ovsepian. Performing a selection of original composition by Ovsepian and McHenry this exciting new collaboration brings together some of the most exciting voices in contemporary jazz for one special concert.

Completing the trilogy, The Shaolin Afronauts deliver their final Mad Max Jazz opus with a visit to the Thunderdome. Experience Mad Max like never before in this sweeping event that fuses George Miller’s astounding imagination of a post-apocalyptic world with the wild jazz fusion sound of the Afronauts.In what is considered one of the greatest threequels of all time, Beyond Thunderdome transports us fifteen years ahead of where we left the Roadwarrrior, Max Rockatansky, at Stonnington Jazz 2018. Mad Max (Mel Gibson), our anti-hero, exiled to the desert by the corrupt ruler of Bartertown (Tina Turner), becomes a gladiator, rebelling against corrupted authority with an army of nomadic orphans.The Adelaide-based ARIA-nominated ensemble that is The Shaolin Afronauts, create a soundscape that crashes afro-beat, prog rock and free jazz – distinctive and truly unique. Complemented with the original dialogue, sound effects and subtitles, the screening is an immersive fusion of epic storytelling with a wall of sound reimaging.Don’t miss the meeting of cult film with cult jazz for the ultimate – and final – Thunderdome showdown.

Adelaide UNESCO City of Music and Adelaide Festival Centre celebrate International Jazz Day with a special evening showcasing some of Australia’s finest jazz performers lovingly curated by Adelaide’s Ross McHenry and Mark Simeon Ferguson. Ross and Mark will be joined by some of Australia’s finest jazz performers including Anita Wardell (UK) winner of the prestigious BBC Jazz Award in the ‘Best of Jazz’ category in 2006 and a British Jazz award for Best Vocalist in 2013. More details and guest performers will be announced over the coming weeks. Our friends at COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide) will also be presenting preshow and interval entertainment in the Space foyer from 5.30pm featuring Alex Taylor (Trombone), Sam Cagney (Guitar) and Lyndon Gray (Double Bass).

Come straight from work and join us for a drink and a bite to eat from 5:30pm with bars and Moorish Bites food truck at the Dunstan Playhouse Riverdeck.

The Outsiders, written by Ross McHenry, brings together three leading musicians; Ross McHenry (bass), Myele Manzanza (drums) and Matthew Sheens (piano)

The trio perform an extended suite of new music that explores the idea of a collision between geography and cultural identity.

A conflict between a world where we have equal access to information but not equal access to opportunity. A world where geography, as much as we deny it, still defines how our work interacts with the world around us. A musical attempt to paint a picture of our emotional experience as we navigate the world as outsiders, this series of ambitious new works is about exploring who we are based on the premise that no matter where we reside, we cannot deny where we are from.

To celebrate 14 years of releasing music, First Word Records has pulled together a plethora of artists from the current roster to perform at this very special event, taking place at Total Refreshment Centre in North London. Crossing the boundaries of Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, Beats & beyond, there will be live acts and DJs from Australia, New Zealand, France, Wales, and from across England.

Performing on the night will be…

Children Of Zeus (live)

Manchester's finest Hip Hop Soul duo, Konny Kon & Tyler Daley, released their debut EP ‘The Story So Far’ on First Word late last year to universal acclaim. They've received props from numerous musical peers, and performed countless shows across the UK & beyond. There have been recent sessions at BBC Maida Vale, Worldwide FM and Boiler Room, Tyler featured on Goldie’s most recent album/tour and Konny holds down a monthly radio show on NTS too. Their debut album drops later this year.

Darkhouse Family (aka Earl Jeffers & Don Leisure) (DJ set)

Cardiff’s Earl Jeffers & Don Leisure dropped their debut album ‘The Offering’ on First Word at the end of 2017 to a chorus of big ups. Don Leisure released a beats album last year too (‘Shaboo’) and Earl Jeffers recently collaborated on releases with Byron The Aquarius & Henry Wu / Kamaal Williams (who also features on their album). They’ve also released music on labels like Fat City & Earnest Endeavours. As DJs, they've appeared on BBC 6 Music, Boiler Room, Worldwide FM, Rinse FM, NTS, Fabric and Solid Steel.

Ross McHenry Trio feat. Mark de Clive-Lowe & Myele Manzanza (live)

All the way from Australia & New Zealand comes the formidable Ross McHenry Trio. Award-winner Ross’ 2017 album ‘The Outsiders’ received a number of plaudits from across the world of Jazz. Joining Ross will be powerhouse drummer Myele Manzanza (whose ‘OnePointOne - Live at The Blue Whale’ album landed late 2016) and legendary musician Mark de Clive-Lowe. This is a real treat.

Profusion (aka K15 & Emeson) (live)

Also performing live, the combined talents of K15 and Emeson, whose debut album ‘Where Do I Begin?’ also landed last year. K15 is one of the most respected DJs and musicians in the capital, releasing also for Eglo, Wild Oats & WotNot Music. Singer Emeson’s varied skill-set has seen him work with Chico Hamilton, Carla Duke, Karmasound and more, as well as being frontman for other groups, featuring on releases for BBE and Tokyo Dawn. A duo establishing a rep for creating classy contemporary London soul music.

Kaidi Tatham & The Commisioner (b2b DJ set)

Flying in from Belfast to play some records for us will be the immensely talented Kaidi Tatham, following his recent EP 'Hard Times'. Kaidi is maybe best known for his Bugz In The Attic work, while his musical contributions include Amy Winehouse, Slum Village, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Leroy Burgess, Amp Fiddler, Macy Gray, King Britt, DJ Spinna, Mr Scruff and IG Culture. He was an integral part of DJ Jazzy Jeff's PLAYlist project (also with Stro Elliot, Masego, Tall Black Guy etc) and was recently part of Jeff and Will Smith's (The Fresh Prince) reunion tour. This as well as adding releases to his catalogue, on 2000 Black and Theo Parrish's Sound Signature, with regular compadre, Dego.

Kaidi will be joined back-to-back on the turntables by The Commissioner. A surprise of sorts on the night, the only hint we can really give you is that there are numerous ‘examples’ out there of collabs these guys have linked up for. Those that know, know…

Quiet Dawn (DJ set)

Former Parisian native, Will Galland aka Quiet Dawn, first appeared on the First Word in late 2014, releasing his debut album 'The First Day' the following year. Collaborations on that album and subsequent mixes since have included offerings from Oddisee, Miles Bonny, Bastien Keb, Sauce81 (Eglo), Mayaka McCraven and Sarah Williams White. His forthcoming material embodies Bonobo / Quantic-esque grooves, and the cinematic library record craft of Alan Hawkshaw et al. His DJ sets are equally as eclectic.

Gilla & BobaFatt (b2b DJ set)

Founder of First Word, and a respected DJ in his own right, with his Excursions radio show / club nights, Gilla is also resident at Croatian festivals Dimensions & Soundwave, is part of CoOp’s Selectors Assemble crew, has guested on Worldwide FM & Bandcamp Weekly, and was the daddy of seminal Leeds club night, New Bohemia amongst others.

He’s joined by Main Squeeze’s BobaFatt, who began work at First Word just over a year ago. BobaFatt has been awarded acclaim over the years from BBC 1Xtra, Mixcloud & Fact Magazine, has DJed everywhere from Fabric to Royal Albert Hall, featured on Huey Morgan’s BBC 6 Music show several times & hosts shows on Soho Radio & Itch FM.

This promises to be a night to remember, so don’t go sleeping on this one!…

In 2012 Australia’s most dynamic afro-beat and spiritual jazz group Shaolin Afronauts presented an ambitious one off concert with an expanded ensemble of 18 musicians at the Adelaide Festival Centre. Immediately following this performance the 18-piece ensemble hit the studio and the resulting album Quest Under Capricorn released on Freestyle Records to wide acclaim.

Now in 2017 Shaolin Afronauts are excited to announce the return of this epic project for Umbrella Festival on 27 July at the Governor Hindmarsh. Presenting the original works in their entirety as well as new works that mark the development of the group over the past five years, Quest Under Capricorn LIVE will be a spectacle to behold.

Long time antipodean collaborators Ross McHenry Music (AU) and Myele Manzanza (NZ) join forces for 2 very special double album release concerts in Melbourne and Adelaide this February performing new music from Manzanza's dynamic sophomore live recording OnePointOne and McHenry's critically acclaimed and politically charged Child Of Somebody, both albums released on First Word Records UK.

This bassist and drummer combo are at the forefront of the antipodean avante garde as virtuoso instrumentalists improvisors and composers of immense scope and vision. Alongside some of Australia's best and brightest musicians including Jason McMahon(Saxophone), Adam Page (Saxophone / Flute), Brenton Foster (Keyboards) and Dylan Marshall (Guitar) + special guests TBA this will be a special concert not to be missed.

Long time antipodean collaborators Ross McHenry Music (AU) and Myele Manzanza (NZ) join forces for 2 very special double album release concerts in Melbourne and Adelaide this February performing new music from Manzanza's dynamic sophomore live recording OnePointOne and McHenry's critically acclaimed and politically charged Child Of Somebody, both albums released on First Word Records UK.

This bassist and drummer combo are at the forefront of the antipodean avante garde as virtuoso instrumentalists improvisors and composers of immense scope and vision. Alongside some of Australia's best and brightest musicians including Jason McMahon(Saxophone), Adam Page (Saxophone / Flute), Brenton Foster (Keyboards) and Dylan Marshall (Guitar) + special guests TBA this will be a special concert not to be missed.

Yes. Mad Max is making his Jazz debut. Stonnington Jazz premieres the pièce de résistance of Australian cult cinema re-imagined for a brave new (jazz) world. In a festival exclusive, the classic 1979 film will be screened at the famous art deco Astor Theatre with a live reinterpreted score created by seminal futurist jazz outfit The Shaolin Afronauts.

Mad Max transports us to an unforgiving post-apocalyptic world awash with societal breakdown, murder and vengeance. Directed by George Miller, the low-budget film became a top-grossing Australian film starring a then little-known Mel Gibson.

To create a new sonic landscape for Mad Max’s future dystopia come the Shaolin Afronauts with their original soundtrack. Drawing on a diverse array of musical and other worldly influences, the South Australian act, led by Ross McHenry with fellow musicians Kevin van der Zwaag, Jarrad Payne, Tim Benett, Lachlan Ridge, Dylan Marshall, Brenton Foster, Jon Hunt, Adam Page, Jason McMahon and Chris Weber, has garnered a cult following in Australia and earned praise from around the world with performances across Europe and Japan.